Parachute shroud link



Aug. 24, 1948. A. THOMAS- 2,447,921

PARACHUTE SHROUD LINK --Filed March 22, 1946 ALBERT THOMAS Patented Aug. 24, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE rlmacnors srmoon 1.1m:

Albert Thomas, ltiunhall, Pa. Application March 22, 1946, Serial No. 658,496 1 Claim. (Cl. 24265) a parachute.

The conventional parachute includes a harness which is strapped onto and around the body of the wearer so as to secure him within it. The harness includes, or may be said to terminate in members which are generally called riser straps, lift webs, or suspension straps, and which, when the wearer is descending through the air suspended by the parachute, extend vertically to a point where they terminate and are joined to the lower ends of the parachute shroud lines by metallic links or D rings, These links or rings are of one piece construction, theends of the riser straps being passed through the link and looped back, the overlapping portions being securely sewed together. The shroud lines are secured to the other portion of the link in a. similar manner, being passed through the link. knotted and sewed. The connection of the riser straps to the shroud lines is thus a tedious operation and after it is made they are inseparable, except by ripping of the sewed stitches.

It is necessary that the parachute canopy be unpacked at intervals for inspection and airing, and it must also be unpacked and dried out if it has become wet or damp. With the present type of one piece links or couplers the harness cannot be detached from the shroud lines of the canopy, and the entire parachute including the harness must be taken out of service during the time the canopy is being aired or dried.

I have provided a two piece separable link for the purpose of detachably joining the riser straps to the shroud lines. the loops in the ends of the riser straps and the loops at the bottoms of the shroud lines may be stitched before they are secured to the link. It is considerably easier to stitch the loops in this manner than when already assembled on the link. After the aforesaid stitching, the separable parts of the link are slipped into the loops and secured together to complete the connection of the shroud lines to the riser straps. My separable link is only slightly larger and heavier than a solid link of the same strength.

While the separable link of my invention is so designed as to be absolutely foolproof and will not fall under the extreme loads to which it is subjected when the parachute first opens, it can be readily and easily disassembled in order to detach the shroud lines oi the canopy from the riser straps for the purposes previously described.

When my novel link is used,

2 My separable link comprises two identical parts that have an interiltting relationship wlth each tical link parts, which design does not permit of any play between the two partswhen assembled,

whether the screws are in place or not. The shape of the two identical parts or the link is such as to lend to their manufacture by forging. The parts of the link are also shaped to prevent the link being cocked at an angle between the shroud lines and the riser straps as by the slipping of either the shroud lines or riser straps around the link.

It is therefore a primary object 01' my invention to provide a separable link between the shroud lines and riser strap of a parachute and itsiharness to permit the easier connection between these two elements and also to permit their disconnection.

It is another important object to provide a link of the type described which is so shapedas to prevent it being cocked from its normal position between the shroud lines and riser straps.

Another important object is the provision of a. novel separable'link adapted to separably conmeet two elements of a harness or the like equipment.

Another object is the provision of a novel separable connecting link between two elements of a harness or the like equipment wherein tension Other objects will become apparent as the description proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a view of a preferred form of a link constructed in accordance with my invention,

bled there is no play between the assembled part-8..

shown assembled with the riser straps and shroud lines in place.

Figure 2 is an exploded view the elements of the link shown in Figure 1, illustrating the similarity of the parts and the ease with which they may be assembled.

Figure 3 is a sectional view substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a partial view showing the application of a rounded mandrel or nose to one of the parts of the link to facilitate the slipping oi the shroud lines or the riser straps onto its respective portion of the link.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2 the separable link comprises two similar L shaped elements designated generally by the reference numbers 8 and 9. Element 8 has a long leg l0 terminating at its end in a slightly enlarged and tapered male portion H which is drilled and tapped axially to receive a screw I2. The leg I0 is substantially cylindrical for insertion into loops in the ends of the shroud lines B as shown in Figure l. The other leg I 4 extends substantially at right angles to the leg I 0, and is substantially shorter than leg ID as shown. At its end portion the short leg II is enlarged and provided with a tapered bore is which is parallel to the axis of the long leg Ill and the tapered male portion ll thereon. The dimensions of the bore l5 and its angle of taper, etc., are the same as those of the male portion ll although the slope of the taper is in the opposite direction from that of the male portion II for a purpose to be described.

At the juncture of the long leg In and the short leg I there is provided an enlargement l6 which provides a radial flange I] (shown also in Figure 3) at the left end of the long leg ID. The enlargement l6 and radial flange l1 form a stop or abutment at the end of the long leg III, the stop being larger than the diameter of the long leg I ii, and preventing the shroud lines it from slipping on of the long leg I! and around the bend onto the short leg l4. The smaller end of the tapered bore is slightly countersunk at it to receive the mating conical underside I! of the head on a machine screw 22.

The L shaped element 9 is identical in shape and dimensions with the element 8, having a long leg 23 with a tapered male portion 24. a short leg 25 having an enlargement 26 with a tapered bore 21 therein, and an enlargement 28 at the juncture of the short and long legs to form a radial flange 29 having the same purpose as the enlargement and flange l8 and I1.

As shown in Figure 1 the loops at the ends of the shroud lines II are slipped over the long leg I 0 of the element 8. In order to facilitate this operation and to prevent the chafing of the shroud lines on the end of the tapered male portion l0, a rounded mandrel or noze 33 (Figure 4) having a threaded part 34 is screwed into the tapped hole 35 in the male portion. The largest diameter of the mandrel 33 is such that it prevents the loops on the shroud lines from engaging the corner at the end of the male portion, as will be apparent, and after the loops have all been slipped onto the long leg 8 the mandrel is' removed.

The upper end of a riser strap 38 is doubled back upon itself and stitched at 39 to form a loop 40 at its end, is shown in Figure 1. The mandrel 33 is used on the male portion 24 of the element 9 when placing the loop 40 onto the long leg 23 as previously described in connection with the shroud lines J3,

After the riser strap 38 and the shoud lines l3 are in place as described the two elements 8 and 9 are assembled by simultaneously slipping the tapered male portions II and 24 into the tapered bores 21 and IS. The elements 8 and 9 are pressed together so that the respective male portions are wedged into the tapered bores. It is apparent that in this condition the two elements 8 and 9 are well secured together due to this wedging action, and that forces applied perpendicular to the long legs "I and 23, or even at a substantial angle to them, cannot pull the separable elements apart. This is due to the arrangement of the interfltting parts of the two links and the slight degree of taper of the male portions II and 24 and the bores l5 and 21, which taper is exaggerated in the drawings for purpose of illustration, the actual taper being in the order of approximately three-fourths of an inch per foot.

The assembled link is positively held together, however, by the screws l2 and 22 which are now inserted and screwed up tightly. Separation of the link is accomplished simply and quickly by removing the screws i2 and 22 and pulling the elements 8 and '9 apart, A slight tapping of the elements may be necessary in order to loosen the tapered parts which are wedged together.

My separable link therefor provides a quickly separable connection between the riser straps and the shroud lines, of such design that it is as strong as a solid link. Because it is separable, the loops in the ends of the riser straps and shroud lines may be made and sewed before they are assembled onto the link, which is a distinct advantage. Neither the shroud lines nor the riser can slip around the corners of the assembled link since this action is prevented by the flanges I1 and 29 and by the enlargements 26 and 4| which contain the tapered bores. Cocking of the link between the shroud lines and riser straps is thus prevented. The cost of manufacture of the link is kept at a minimum by reason of the fact that the elements are identical, and that any two elements, when assembled, form a link.

While I have illustrated my invention as applied to the joining of the shroud lines to the riser straps, it is to be understood that it may be used in any part of the parachute where a separable link is desirable, and it is also intended for use in any environment other than in a parachute, where a separable connection between two elements is used.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claim rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claim are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

A detachable link for connecting the shroud lines of a par'chute to the harness, comprising a substantially identical pair of rigid angular elements each having a short leg and a long leg substantially at right angles to each other, the short leg of each element having a slightly tapered elongated bore adjacent its end and parallel to the long leg of the element, the end portion of the long leg of each element being also tapered slightly along an enlongated section at the same angle and having the same dimensions as the tapered 5 bore, said tapered bores and end portions being sloped in a direction so that said elements are adapted to be assembled with the tapered end portion of each long leg extending into and securely wedged into the tapered bore of each short leg. the said tapered portions extending substantially through the said tapered bores but terminating within said bores and adjacent the smaller ends thereof, and a headed screw, threaded axially into the end of each said long leg with its head engaging the bored end of the mating short leg adjacent the smaller end of the bore therethrough. to maintain the wedged engagement of 8 the long legs within their respective tapered bores.

' ALBERT THOMAS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date m 1,538,648 Noble May 19, 1925 1,565,392 Powers Dec. 15, 1925 1,852,321 Leighton Apr, 5, 1932 2,049,024 -Robertson July 28, 1936 

